University of Georgia athlete Elija Godwin suffered a horror injury as he impaled himself on a javelin during a training drill, being rushed to hospital with part of the object still lodged in his back.
Godwin, 19, was training on campus in Athens on Tuesday when the sickening injury happened.
While running backwards he fell onto a javelin that was impaled in the ground, causing the object to puncture his left lung as it pierced his back.
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Emergency services then cut off part of the javelin, leaving the remaining part lodged in Godwin as he was taken to Athens Regional Medical Center.
Medical staff then removed the object fully during surgery, with Godwin expected to make a full recovery.
"We would like to express appreciation for all those who acted so quickly and efficiently in coming to the aid of Elija,"said UGA Director of Sports Medicine Ron Courson.
"Special thanks to our sports medicine staff, UGA Police Department, Athens-Clarke County Fire-Rescue, National EMS, and Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center."
Godwin is a standout sprint prospect at 100m, 200m and 400m, and regularly posts his achievements on Twitter.
He clocked a personal best of 10.47 seconds in the 100m in March and is touted for big things in the sport, although will now miss the rest of this season.
Georgia athletic directorGreg McGarity said he incident "was truly an accident."
"Nobody threw anything or anything like that," he added.
Source : RT - Daily news
US sprinter impaled on javelin as he runs backwards on track
US sprinter impaled on javelin as he runs backwards on track
